SYSTEM FOR DETECTING A CLICKED STATE AND AN UNCLICKED STATE OF A BUTTON FOR CAPACITIVE TOUCH DEVICE

Abstract

The present invention concerns a button (1) for a capacitive touch device (5), comprising a support member (10) with a contact member (14), with at least a couple (143) of lower contacts (144′, 144″).

One lower contact of the couple faces a drive electrode and the other faces a non-adjacent sense electrode of the capacitive touch device (5).

The button comprises also an activation member (20), movable by a user relative to the support member (10), comprising a switch member (263) configured to: conductively connect the lower contacts (144′, 144″), thereby closing a charge path (6) from the drive electrode and the non-adjacent sense electrode, when the button is in the clicked state, and conductively separate the lower contacts (144′, 144″), when the button is in the unclicked state, so as to open the charge path (6).

A mutual capacitance facing one of the lower contacts is modified once the charge path (6) is closed respectively opened, thereby allowing the capacitive touch device (5) to detect the clicked state respectively the unclicked state of the button (1).

Claims

1. System for detecting a clicked state and an unclicked state of a button, comprising said button, a capacitive touch device, wherein said button is configured to be placed on a capacitive touch surface of said capacitive touch device and configured to allow the capacitive touch device to detect a clicked state and an unclicked state of the button, wherein the capacitive touch device comprises: drive conductive lines, wherein each line serially connects drive electrodes and is arranged to receive a drive signal, sense conductive lines, wherein each line serially connects sense electrodes and is arranged to be sensed, so as to determine mutual capacitances between adjacent drive electrodes and sense electrodes, wherein the drive conductive lines and the sense conductive lines are arranged in an array form, wherein the button comprises: a support member configured to face the capacitive touch surface, wherein the support member comprises a contact member comprising: a lower surface configured to be placed on the touch sensor surface, and comprising at least a couple of lower contacts, wherein the lower contacts are arranged so that one lower contact of the couple faces a drive electrode and the other lower contact of the couple faces a non-adjacent sense electrode, an activation member, which is movable by a user relative to the support member, wherein the activation member in the clicked state is moved closer to the support member than in the unclicked state, wherein the activation member comprises: a user contact surface which is configured to be touched by a user for moving the activation member, thereby actuating the button, a switch member, configured to conductively connect the lower contacts of the couple, thereby closing a charge path from the drive electrode and the non-adjacent sense electrode facing the lower contacts of the couple, when the button is in the clicked state, conductively separate said lower contacts of the couple, when the button is in the unclicked state, so as to open said charge path, wherein a mutual capacitance facing one of the lower contacts of the couple is modified once the charge path is dosed respectively opened, thereby allowing the capacitive touch device to detect the clicked state respectively the unclicked state of the button.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said mutual capacitance has a first value, when the button is in the clicked state, and a second value, different from the first, when the button is in the unclicked state, wherein the capacitive touch device is arranged to detect the clicked state respectively the unclicked state of the button based on the first respectively the second value.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the contact member comprises an upper surface opposite to the lower surface, the upper surface comprising one or more upper contacts.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein each upper contact is associated with a couple of lower contacts.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the switch member comprises conductive element(s), each conductive element facing an upper contact of the contact member.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein each conductive element is arranged so as to conductively connected the lower contacts of the couple via the associated upper contact, when the button is in the clicked state.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the switch member comprises a body comprising conductive element(s).

8. The system of claim 5, wherein each conductive element is a pad.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein the conductive element is a conductive film along the whole periphery of the surface of the activation member facing the contact member.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the switch member is configured to provide an haptic click feedback and/or an acoustic click feedback, when the button changes from the unclicked state to the clicked state and/or vice-versa.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the switch member comprise an elastic element as a dome spring.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the user contact surface is non-conductive.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the contact member is a PCB.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the support member is keyed, so as to receive the contact member only in one orientation.

15. Method for allowing a capacitive touch device to detect a clicked state and an unclicked state of a button configured to be placed on a capacitive touch surface of said capacitive touch device, wherein the capacitive touch device comprises: drive conductive lines, wherein each line serially connects drive electrodes and is arranged to receive a drive signal, sense conductive lines, wherein each line serially connects sense electrodes and is arranged to be sensed, so as to determine a mutual capacitance between adjacent drive electrodes and sense electrodes, wherein the drive conductive lines and the sense conductive lines are arranged in an array form, the method comprising the steps of: measuring mutual capacitances between adjacent drive electrodes and sense electrodes, when the button is in the unclicked state, so as to have a mutual capacitance reference measurement frame, measuring mutual capacitances between adjacent drive electrodes and sense electrodes, so as to have a mutual capacitance current measurement frame, wherein, if the button is in the clicked state, a drive electrode associated to a first lower contact of the button is connected via a switch member of the button with a non-adjacent sense electrode associated to a second lower contact of the button, so as to modify at least a value of a mutual capacitance facing one of the lower contacts, comparing the mutual capacitance current measurement frame with the mutual capacitance reference measurement frame, wherein: if the mutual capacitance current measurement frame is equal to the mutual capacitance reference measurement frame, then the button is in the unclicked state, if the mutual capacitance current measurement frame is different from the mutual capacitance reference measurement frame, then the button is in the clicked state.

Description

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0058] Exemplar embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the description and illustrated by the drawings in which:

[0059] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a button according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0060] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of some parts of the button of FIG. 1, without the activation member.

[0061] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of some parts of the button of FIG. 1 without the activation member and the switch member.

[0062] FIG. 4 illustrates a cut view of the button of FIG. 1 along the line II-II of FIG. 1.

[0063] FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of the contact member of the button of FIG. 1.

[0064] FIG. 6 illustrates a bottom view of the contact member of FIG. 5.

[0065] FIG. 7 schematically illustrates a cut view of the button and of the capacitive touch device, so as to representing the working of the system according to the invention.

[0066] FIG. 8 schematically illustrates a top view of the sensor layer, when the button is in the unclicked state.

[0067] FIG. 9 schematically illustrates a top view of the sensor layer of FIG. 8, when the button is in the clicked state.

[0068] FIG. 10A illustrates a perspective view of buttons according to another embodiment of the invention.

[0069] FIG. 10B illustrates a perspective view of buttons according to another embodiment of the invention.

[0070] FIG. 11A illustrates a top view of the buttons of FIG. 10A.

[0071] FIG. 11B illustrates a top view of the buttons of FIG. 10B.

[0072] FIG. 12A illustrates a bottom view of the buttons of FIG. 10A.

[0073] FIG. 12B illustrates a top view of the buttons of FIG. 10B.

[0074] FIG. 13A illustrates a top view of the contact member for the buttons of FIGS. 10A or 10B.

[0075] FIG. 13B illustrates a bottom view of the contact member of the FIG. 13A.

EXAMPLES OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0076] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a button 1 according to one embodiment of the invention. The button 1 according to the invention is configured to be placed on a capacitive touch surface 53 of a capacitive touch device 5 (visible e.g. in FIG. 7). It is also configured to allow the capacitive touch device 5 to detect a clicked state and an unclicked state of the button 1.

[0077] The capacitive touch device 5 is illustrated in FIG. 7 and comprises: [0078] a display layer 51, made by glass or any other suitable material, on which the button 1 according to the invention is placed, and [0079] a sensor layer 52, made e.g. by ITO or any other suitable material, placed under the display layer 51, i.e. on a surface opposite to the surface facing the button 1.

[0080] FIG. 8 illustrates schematically a (partial) top view of the sensor layer 52, when the button 1 is in the unclicked state. The sensor layer 52 comprises: [0081] drive conductive lines 521′, 521″, wherein each line serially connects drive electrodes and is arranged to receive a drive signal, and [0082] sense conductive lines 522′, 522″, wherein each line serially connects sense electrodes and is arranged to be sensed, so as to determine mutual capacitances between adjacent drive electrodes and sense electrodes.

[0083] In the example of FIG. 8, for simplicity, only the mutual capacitance Cm_ref between the adjacent electrodes C″d (drive electrode) and C″s (sense electrode) has been illustrated.

[0084] The mutual capacitance Cm_ref and the other mutual capacitances between the adjacent drive and sense electrodes are measured at the sensing of the sense conductive lines 522′, 522″, and the result of this measurement is a mutual capacitance reference measurement frame.

[0085] The drive conductive lines 521′, 521″ and the sense conductive lines 522′, 522″ are arranged in an array. The drive conductive lines 521′, 521″ are arranged in a first direction and the sense conductive lines 522′, 522″ are arranged in a second direction. In the (non-limitative) example FIG. 8, the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction.

[0086] Each touch pixel of the capacitive touch device 5 can be identified by the corresponding drive and sense conductive lines. Each touch pixel is in particularly formed by a mutual capacitive connection between one drive electrode and the adjacent sense electrode.

[0087] The capacitive touch device is configured to measure the capacitance between adjacent drive and sense electrodes, e.g. in subsequent distinct time windows of one sampling period. Once the capacitance is measured, a touch frame of the measurements of all touch pixels within one sampling period is created, so as to detect the presence and/or the position of an object on the capacitive touch surface 53.

[0088] Preferably, the sensor layer 52 is configured for passively detecting positions of a passive object on the capacitive touch surface 53. In one embodiment, a passive detection can be achieved by applying a driving signal on the touch pixels of a drive conductive line 521′ or 521″ and by measuring (sequentially or at the same time) the output of sense conductive line(s) 522′, 522″. The driving signal is applied sequentially to each (and/or only one) of the drive conductive lines 521′, 521″ so that the output signal for each combination of drive and sense conductive lines, thus for each touch pixel, can be measured. Based on the output signals for each touch pixel, the mutual capacitance value of each touch pixel of the sensor layer (and in the touch frame) can be measured.

[0089] If the mutual capacitance value goes under (or over) a certain threshold, a touch is detected at this touch pixel. Therefore, the touch sensor comprises preferably a driving circuit (not illustrated) for driving the drive conductive lines 521′, 521″ and a sensing circuit (not illustrated) for measuring the output of the sense conductive lines 522′, 522″. The driving circuit is connected to the drive conductive lines 521′, 521″ for sequentially applying a driving signal at the drive conductive lines 521′, 521″. The sensing circuit is connected to the sense conductive lines 522′, 522″ for measuring for each drive conductive lines 521′, 521″ the output of all sense conductive lines 522′, 522″. Preferably, the sensing circuit comprises at least one charge sensor and at least one digital to analogue converter. An example of a sensing circuit is described in the document EP2617132, filed by the applicant

[0090] Referring back to FIG. 1, the button 1 according to the invention comprises: [0091] a support member 10, and [0092] an activation member 20.

[0093] The support member 10 is configured to face the capacitive touch surface 53, and comprises a contact member 14, visible e.g. in FIGS. 3 to 6.

[0094] In one embodiment, the button 1 is mounted in a fixed manner on the capacitive touch surface 53, e.g. glued on the capacitive touch surface 53. In another embodiment, the support member 10 is fixed in a non-removably/non-detachably manner on the capacitive touch surface 53. Preferably, the support member 10 is glued on the capacitive touch surface 53. In an alternative embodiment, the support member 10 can be fixed in a removably/detachably manner. This can be realised by simply placing the button 1 with the support 10 on the capacitive touch surface 53 such that the support member 10 is fixed by the gravity and/or friction. This can be improved by a high friction surface on the support surface of the support 10, i.e. the surface of the support 10 facing the capacitive touch surface 53. This can also be realised by detachable fixation mechanisms like a suction surface on the support surface.

[0095] The button 1 is described in the as fixed to the capacitive touch device 5. The button 1 is however also protected without the capacitive touch device 5. The button 1 is then configured to be fixed to the (flat) capacitive touch surface 53 of the capacitive touch device 1.

[0096] The contact member 14 comprises: [0097] an upper surface 140, visible in FIG. 5, configured to face in this embodiment the activation member 20, and [0098] a lower surface 146, visible in FIG. 6, configured to be placed on (and preferably to directly touch) the touch sensor surface 53.

[0099] According to the invention, the lower surface 146 of the contact member 14 comprises at least a couple 143 of lower contacts 144′, 144″ (five couples 143 are illustrated in the example of FIG. 6).

[0100] According to the invention, the lower contacts 144′, 144″ are arranged so that one lower contact of the couple 143 faces a drive electrode (e.g. the drive electrode C′d in FIG. 8) and the other lower contact of the couple faces a non-adjacent sense electrode, (e.g. the sense electrode C″s in FIG. 8).

[0101] In this context, a sense electrode non-adjacent with a drive electrode is a sense electrode not forming with this drive electrode a touch pixel as discussed here above. On the contrary, this context, a sense electrode adjacent with a drive electrode is a sense electrode forming with this drive electrode a touch pixel as discussed here above, i.e. a mutual capacitance whose value is sensed by the capacitive touch device so as to detect a touch.

[0102] In other words, a sense electrode non-adjacent with a drive electrode is a sense electrode not belonging on the same horizontal line (drive conductive line) or vertical line (sense conductive line) of the drive electrode.

[0103] In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the upper surface 140 of the contact member 14 comprises also one or more upper contacts 141. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, each upper contact 141 is associated with a couple 143 of lower contacts 144′, 144″ on the opposed surface.

[0104] The upper and lower contacts of the contact member 14 are (at least partially) conductive.

[0105] Although in FIGS. 5 and 6, upper and lower contacts of the contact member 14 have been illustrated by circles, this is not limitative and they can have any other shape, including e.g. squared, rectangular or polygonal shape. Moreover, it is not necessary that upper and lower contacts of the contact member 14 have all the same size.

[0106] In the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6, the contact member 14 comprises orientations elements 142, e.g. notches, cooperating with corresponding orientations elements 12 of the support member 10, e.g. pins, visible e.g. in FIG. 3. In other words, in one embodiment, the support member 10 is keyed, so as to receive the contact member 14 only in one orientation. This is important in particular if the button has a circular shape, as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 6.

[0107] In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 6, the contact member 14 and the support member 10 are arranged so that the contact member 14 can be received by the support member 10, without requiring any fixation means between the contact member 14 and the support member 10. In this case, the contact member 14 can have a smaller size than the support member 10 (e.g., in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 6, the diameter of the contact member 14 is smaller than the diameter of the support member 10).

[0108] In another embodiment, the contact member 14 can be fixed to the support member 10, e.g. by an adhesive film or a glue. The fixation can be movable or not. In this case, the contact member 14 can have a similar or equal size than the support member 10, as in the case of FIGS. 10A to 13B.

[0109] In one preferred embodiment the contact member 14 is a PCB (Printed Circuit Board). This embodiment is simple and cheap to realize. In one preferred embodiment the contact member 14 is a ring-shaped PCB.

[0110] The activation member 20 of the button 1 according to the invention is movable by a user relative to the support member 10. In particular, the activation member 20 in the clicked state is moved closer to the support member 10 than in the unclicked state. According to the invention, the activation member 20 comprises: [0111] a user contact surface 21, visible e.g. in FIG. 1, which is configured to be touched by a user for moving the activation member 20, thereby actuating the button 1, and [0112] a switch member 26, visible e.g. in FIG. 2.

[0113] In one preferred embodiment, the user contact surface 21 is (at least partially) transparent, so as to transfer information displayed on the touch sensor surface 53 under the user contact surface 21 to the user. In the example of FIG. 1, the user contact surface 21 comprises a central portion 22 which is transparent and a peripheral portion 24 which is not-transparent.

[0114] In one preferred embodiment, the user contact surface 21 is non-conductive, e.g. made of plastics. For example, both the central portion 22 and the peripheral portion are non-conductive. This embodiment as well is simple and cheap to realize.

[0115] In one embodiment, the switch member 26 is configured to provide a haptic click feedback and/or an acoustic click feedback, when the button changes from the unclicked state to the clicked state and/or vice-versa. In one preferred embodiment, it comprises elastic elements 260, as dome springs.

[0116] In one preferred embodiment, the switch member 26 comprises several conductive elements (not illustrated). In one embodiment, each conductive element is in (the body of) an elastic element 260.

[0117] In one embodiment, each conductive element (or each elastic element 260 if the conductive element is in the elastic element 260) faces an upper contact 141 of the contact member 14. In one embodiment, each conductive element in the clicked state is moved closer to the corresponding upper contact 141 than in the unclicked state. In one embodiment, each conductive element in the clicked state directly touches (i.e. directly enters into contact with) the corresponding upper contact 141.

[0118] In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the switch member 26 comprises a body 262 connecting the elastic element 260. In one embodiment, the body 262 and the elastic elements 260 are made of the same (elastic) material, e.g. rubber. This embodiment as well is simple and cheap to realize.

[0119] Although in FIG. 2 five elastic elements 260 (and then five conductive element) have been illustrated, this is not limitative and any number of elastic elements 260 and/or of conductive elements can be used. In one preferred embodiment, at least three elastic elements 260 and/or at least three conductive elements are used.

[0120] Although in FIG. 2 all the elastic elements 260 have the same shape and size, this is not-limitative: in other (not-illustrated) embodiments, the elastic elements 260 have different shape and/or size.

[0121] Although in the embodiment of FIG. 2, the switch member 26 has a shape and a size similar or equal to the shape respectively the size of the contact member 14, this is not-limitative: in other (not-illustrated) embodiments, the switch member 26 has different shape and/or size different from the shape respectively the size of the contact member 14.

[0122] In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 6, the switch member 26 is configured to conductively connect, e.g. by a short-circuit or by an ohmic path, the lower contacts of the couple 143 via the associated upper contact 141. This allows to dose a charge path 6, illustrated e.g. in FIG. 7, from the drive electrode C′d respectively C″d to the non-adjacent sense electrode C″s respectively C′s facing the lower contacts 144′, 144″ of the couple 143, when the button 1 is in the clicked state.

[0123] The switch member 26 is also configured to conductively separate the lower contacts 144′, 144″ of the couple 143, when the button 1 is in the unclicked state, so as to open the charge path 6.

[0124] According to the invention, a mutual capacitance Cm facing one of the lower contacts 144′, 144″ of the couple is modified once the charge path 6 is closed respectively opened, thereby allowing the capacitive touch device 5 to detect the clicked state respectively the unclicked state of the button 1.

[0125] In one embodiment, the capacitive touch device is arranged so as to determine a position of the click, on the basis of the modified value of the mutual capacitance Cm.

[0126] In particular, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the charge path 6 comprises a first capacity Cg1 of the display layer 51, the button 1 (in particular the conductive connection between the two lower contacts 144′, 144″ via the switch member 26), and the second capacity Cg2 of the display layer 51. This charge path 6 is grounded via a drive electrode (C′d in FIG. 7) when the sense conductive line(s) are sensed.

[0127] Although in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 6 the conductive connection between the two lower contacts 144′, 144″ is realized by the switch member 26 via the corresponding upper contact 141, this is not limitative for the invention, as other arrangements allowing to conductively connect the two lower contacts 144′, 144″ via a switch member 26, without requiring the use of the upper contact 141, are possible.

[0128] In one preferred embodiment, the capacity of the display layer 51, in particular the capacity Cg2, should be as high as possible, so as to reduce the impedance of the charge path 6 toward the ground. This would require a short (physical) distance between the drive electrode facing a lower contact of the couple 143 and the non-adjacent sense electrode facing the other lower contact of the couple 143. On the other hand, this distance should not be too short, so as to avoid the interaction with the mutual capacitance between the drive electrode facing a lower contact of the couple 143 and an adjacent sense electrode.

[0129] In one preferred embodiment, the drive electrode facing one lower contact of the couple 143 is separated by two drive conductive lines and two sense lines from the non-adjacent sense electrode facing the other lower contact of the couple 143. The applicant has found this distance as a good compromise so as to both reduce the impedance of the charge path 6 toward the ground, and also to avoid the interaction with the mutual capacitance between the drive electrode facing a lower contact of the couple and an adjacent sense electrode.

[0130] FIG. 10A and 10B illustrate a perspective view of buttons 1 according to another embodiment of the invention. In both the illustrated embodiments, a single (monobloc) support member 10 cooperates with more activation members 20 (three in the example). In another (not illustrated) embodiment, there are different support members 10 for the activation members 20.

[0131] In both the illustrated embodiments, the activation members 20 have a rectangular shape. However, this form is not limitative. Moreover, each activation members 20 on the same support member 10 can have different shape and/or size.

[0132] Some activation members 20 the same support member 10 can have a transparent central portion 22, others can be not-transparent.

[0133] In one embodiment, the width w′ of the activation member 20 of the embodiment of FIG. 10A, visible in FIG. 1 1A, is larger than the corresponding width w″ of the activation member 20 of the embodiment of FIG. 10A, visible in FIG. 118.

[0134] This is related to the fact that the conductive elements of the buttons of FIG. 10A, visible in FIG. 12A, are (at least partially) conductive pads 263, placed on the periphery of the surface of the activation member 20 facing the contact member 14. In the embodiment of FIG. 12A, the pads 263 of each activation member 20 face each other. The conductive elements of the buttons of FIG. 10B, visible in FIG. 12B, are a conductive film 264 placed along the whole periphery of the surface of the activation member 20 facing the contact member 14. In one embodiment, the conductive film 264 is transparent. The presence of this conductive film 264 along the whole periphery of the surface of the activation member 20 facing the contact member allows to increase the size of the activation member 20 with regard to the embodiment in which (discrete) conductive elements 263 are used, e.g. to increase its width (w″>w′).

[0135] In the embodiment of FIG. 12A, each activation member is associated with two conductive pads 263, facing each other. This redundancy allows to detect a clicked state of the button independently on the fact that the button is pressed on its left or on its right side.

[0136] FIG. 13A illustrates a top view of the contact member 14 which can be used for the buttons of FIGS. 10A or 10B. In the illustrated embodiment, the contact member 14 is a PCB, comprising through holes 145, in correspondence with the respective activation members 20.

[0137] In this embodiment, the size and the shape of the contact member 14 are substantially identical to the size respectively the shape of the support member 10.

[0138] The contact member 14 is arranged to be connected to the support member 10, e.g. via an adhesive layer placed on the surface 114 of the support member 10 facing the contact member 14. In another (not illustrated) embodiment, the contact member 14 is arranged to be connected to the support member 10 via an adhesive layer placed on the surface 140 of the contact member 14 facing in this case the support member 10.

[0139] In the embodiment of FIG. 13A, the upper surface 140 of the contact member 14 comprises one or more upper contacts 141. In the embodiment of FIG. 13A, each upper contact 141 is associated with a couple 143 of lower contacts 144′, 144″ on the opposed surface, visible in FIG. 13B.

[0140] The upper and lower contacts of the contact member 14 are (at least partially) conductive.

[0141] Although in FIGS. 13A and 13B, upper and lower contacts of the contact member 14 have been illustrated by squares or rectangles, this is not limitative and they can have any other shape, including e.g. circular or polygonal shape. Moreover, it is not necessary that upper and lower contacts of the contact member 14 have all the same size.

[0142] In the embodiment of FIG. 13B, one lower contact can be associated with two upper contacts 141. For example, the lower contact 144″ is associated with two upper contacts 141′ and 141″. This is especially the case where the two key together function (i.e. while both buttons are pressed together) is not desired.

[0143] The sizes and proportions indicated in the Figures are only indicative and have in some cases been modified to improve the clarity of the figures. They are not at all limitative nor necessarily representing the real sizes and proportions.

REFERENCE SIGNS IN THE FIGURES

[0144] 1 Button [0145] 5 Capacitive touch device [0146] 6 Charge path [0147] 10 Support member [0148] 11 First orientation element of the support member [0149] 12 Second orientation element of the support member [0150] 14 Contact member [0151] 20 Activation member [0152] 21 User contact surface [0153] 22 (Transparent) central portion [0154] 24 Peripheral portion [0155] 26 Switch member [0156] 51 Display layer [0157] 52 Sensor layer [0158] 53 Capacitive touch surface [0159] 521′, 521″ Drive line [0160] 522′, 522″ Sensor line [0161] 114 Surface of the support member facing the contact member [0162] 140 Upper surface of the contact member [0163] 141, 141′, 141″ Upper contact [0164] 142 Orientation element of the contact member [0165] 143 Couple of lower contacts [0166] 144′, 144″, 144′″ Lower contact [0167] 145 Through hole [0168] 146 Lower surface of the contact member [0169] 260 Elastic element (dome spring) [0170] 261 Orientation element of the switch member [0171] 262 Body of the switch member [0172] 263 Conductive element of the switch member [0173] 264 Conductive film [0174] C′.sub.d, C″.sub.d Drive electrode [0175] C′.sub.s, C″.sub.s Sense electrode [0176] C.sub.g1, C.sub.g2 Glass capacity [0177] C.sub.m Mutual capacity [0178] C.sub.m_ref Reference mutual capacity [0179] w′, w″ Width of the activation member